Republic of Ireland face Estonia in bid to end play-off agony and reach Euro 2012

Giovanni Trapattoni and the Republic of Ireland moved a step closer to the Euro 2012 finals on Thursday when they were handed a dream play-off draw against Estonia.

The draw was made in Krakow by Polish legend Zbigniew Boniek, who played under Trapattoni for three years at Juventus and actually forced the Italian to sell his former Ireland assistant Liam Brady from the Turin club.

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And in direct contrast to the
misfortune Ireland suffered in the run-up to their eventual
controversial exit at the hands of Thierry Henry and France in the World
Cup play-offs two years ago, they were given the home second leg.

Ireland will play Estonia in
Tallinn's 10,300-seater A La Coq Arena on Friday November 11, with the
second leg in Dublin's Aviva Stadium on Tuesday, November 15.

But before thousands of Irish
supporters start bookings tickets for their first major finals in a
decade in Poland and Ukraine, cautious manager Trapattoni urged the
country not to be complacent about the task ahead and dismissed the idea
that Ireland are favourites to progress.

'Why are we favourites?' he said. 'What notions have you in your heads that make us favourites?

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'This is an international team
which, like us, has made it to the play offs. All the teams that get to
this stage are strong, I mean it.

'I have already spoken to people
who know Estonia. They beat Serbia and Slovenia and put Italy under
a lot of pressure. Let's not make the common mistake to underestimate
them. They have some really technically gifted players.

Euro 2012 play-off draw

Turkey v Croatia

Estonia v Republic of Ireland

Czech Republic v Montenegro

Bosnia v Portugal

'Undoubtedly, the small advantage
that we do have, is that we are playing the second game at home. Let's
not delude ourselves that we have made it the finals already. We have
two tough matches ahead.

'I am a football man. I do not ignore
the threat that this team represents. Only superficial observers would
think that this is an easy tie. The players will know this and I know
this.'

Trapattoni has already contacted
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli for inside information on Estonia, who
include Middlesbrough's Tarmo Kink among their squad.

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Former Ireland manager Brian Kerr,
now coach of the Faroe Islands, was also in the qualifying group, along
with Northern Ireland.

Kink has warned the Irish they will
not have things all their own way in the play-offs. Estonia have never
before reached the play-off stage, and while their presence in the draw
was cause enough for celebration, Kink and his team-mates are determined
to continue their adventure.

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The 26-year-old Middlesbrough player
said: 'It's a huge tie for us. We have already made history by making
the play-offs for the first time, and now everyone in Estonia is hoping
we can make our debut in the European Championships.

'It will be a tough tie against
Ireland, but it would have been tough whoever we drew for these games. I
know some of the Irish players and they will be just as determined to
qualify as we are.'

Ireland are hopeful captain Robbie
Keane will be fit after he flew back to Los Angeles for recovery from
the hamstring and groin strain which ruled him out of Tuesday's decisive
group win over Armenia.